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Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said at a news conference earlier in the day that "many lives were lost." Orlando Chief of Police John Mina added that "approximately" 20 people we killed, and "at least 42 people" were transported to various hospitals. Orlando Police officers direct family members away from a multiple shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12, 2016. The President asked to receive regular updates as the FBI, and other federal officials, work with the Orlando Police to gather more information, and directed that the federal government provide any assistance necessary to pursue the investigation and support the community." In a statement issued around 9 a.m., the White House said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims.
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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating this morning's shooting as "an act of terrorism." It said it will determine whether it is "domestic or international" terrorism. "This can be classified as a domestic terror incident," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at the news conference. Orlando police tweeted, "The shooter inside the nightclub is dead," referring to Pulse Nightclub, which bills itself on its website as "Orlando's Premier Gay Night Club." There were about 320 people inside the club at the time of the shootings, officials said. Eleven Orlando Police officers exchanged gunfire with the shooter, according to an FBI spokesman. The shooter was killed in a gunfight with those officers. He was armed with an assault rifle, handgun and "some kind of device on him," officials said.Īt approximately 5 a.m., the SWAT team made the decision to rescue the hostages, officials said. It turned into a hostage situation shortly thereafter, when Mateen took hostages. officials for some time, but was not the target of a specific investigation, law enforcement officials told ABC News.Ī police officer working at the club exchanged fire with Mateen outside of the club at 2:02 a.m., officials said at the news conference. Mateen's parents were born in Afghanistan, and he was "on the radar" of U.S. The FBI also said Mateen "was organized and well-prepared," adding "he is not from this area."